Group awarded $400,000 for helping the homeless

HACKENSACK — The Bergen County Community Action Partnership (CAP) was awarded a $400,000 grant for its work in helping the homeless and those facing severe financial hardships in Bergen County.

On behalf of Gov. Christie’s Administration, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Chairman and Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez presented the grant to the agency’s Homelessness and Rapid-Rehousing Program on Dec. 6.

"This is a real honor for me," said Martinez addressing the crowd. "Even though, [this contribution] is a small piece of what you do, we know that the real contribution is done by the volunteerism of people throughout the year and donations —small or large…So, I am here to say, as a governor’s representative, we are with you… This is the season of giving and we know the need is there 365 days a year and the service needs to be there 365 days a year as well."

The award will help the organization’s efforts to assist clients who are living on the streets, in emergency shelters or are in imminent danger of becoming homeless.

"[The grant] is essentially for people who have a very low income, who have received an eviction notice and do not have the available resources to pay their rent or their back rent," said Bergen County CAP Executive Director Robert F. Halsch Jr. "So [the monies from the grant] will pay a limited percentage of rent in order to get them back on their feet."

The grant will assist approximately 73 individuals and families, according to Halsch. Those chosen to receive financial assistancefrom the grant are selected on a first come, first serve, eligibility basis by the organization. However, it is the organization itself, Bergen County CAP, that applies for the grant, said Halsch.

"The organization applies for the grant," he said. "The grant comes to Bergen County CAP from the State of New Jersey and then we give it out to the individuals and the families. However, we specifically deal with the landlords to make it easier on these families."

Debbie Nicholson, a housing consultant with Bergen County CAP, spoke of the impact that this award will have on the clients that the organization aids.

"It’s for individuals who are homeless or in transitional housing," she said. "This basically means they are in the court process of being evicted from their homes. Homeless means they have already been locked out of their home or they have, for some unforeseen reason, doubled-up or tripled-up in another household. Most families who are doubled or tripled-up are not supposed to be there because they are not part of the lease…Years ago families were able to help families — not anymore because landlords are not allowing it. That is the biggest eligibility."

Nicholson was quick to point out that the Bergen County CAP and its Homelessness and Rapid-Rehousing Program is also reaching out to veterans.

"What we are doing for this program, also, is that we have a lot of veterans coming back home and they are receiving what they call a VASH [Veterans Affair Supportive Housing] voucher and we are seeking security for those particular persons," she said. "Sometimes they are in temporary houses but that is just it — temporary — so they get a VASH voucher, which is almost like a subsidy for veterans because they are on a fixed income."

Housing and rent are not the only issues that Bergen County CAP clients face. This grant will also aid individuals with other residential problems.

"I am able to help people with utilities," Nicholson said. "Utilities keep going up but income doesn’t keep going up. I’m able to help with utility which may be PSE&G, water, oil, any of those, which is a really good thing because even if a person goes into a new apartment, they may have to put anywhere between $200 to $500 utility deposit down in order to get their service."

Bergen County CAP is a non-profit, designated anti-poverty agency.

"We aim to help and change the lives of those who are economically challenged," Halsch said. "We provide a whole host of services— child education, child care, adult education and training. We provide weatherization, energy conservation and home improvement services. We provide energy payment assistance to persons that cannot pay their energy bill. And we provide a whole host of other types of asset development services and homeless prevention."

The main Bergen County CAP facility is located at 241 Moore St. in Hackensack.

Group awarded $400,000 for helping the homeless

HACKENSACK — The Bergen County Community Action Partnership (CAP) was awarded a $400,000 grant for its work in helping the homeless and those facing severe financial hardships in Bergen County.

On behalf of Gov. Christie’s Administration, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Chairman and Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez presented the grant to the agency’s Homelessness and Rapid-Rehousing Program on Dec. 6.

"This is a real honor for me," said Martinez addressing the crowd. "Even though, [this contribution] is a small piece of what you do, we know that the real contribution is done by the volunteerism of people throughout the year and donations —small or large…So, I am here to say, as a governor’s representative, we are with you… This is the season of giving and we know the need is there 365 days a year and the service needs to be there 365 days a year as well."

The award will help the organization’s efforts to assist clients who are living on the streets, in emergency shelters or are in imminent danger of becoming homeless.

"[The grant] is essentially for people who have a very low income, who have received an eviction notice and do not have the available resources to pay their rent or their back rent," said Bergen County CAP Executive Director Robert F. Halsch Jr. "So [the monies from the grant] will pay a limited percentage of rent in order to get them back on their feet."

The grant will assist approximately 73 individuals and families, according to Halsch. Those chosen to receive financial assistancefrom the grant are selected on a first come, first serve, eligibility basis by the organization. However, it is the organization itself, Bergen County CAP, that applies for the grant, said Halsch.

"The organization applies for the grant," he said. "The grant comes to Bergen County CAP from the State of New Jersey and then we give it out to the individuals and the families. However, we specifically deal with the landlords to make it easier on these families."

Debbie Nicholson, a housing consultant with Bergen County CAP, spoke of the impact that this award will have on the clients that the organization aids.

"It’s for individuals who are homeless or in transitional housing," she said. "This basically means they are in the court process of being evicted from their homes. Homeless means they have already been locked out of their home or they have, for some unforeseen reason, doubled-up or tripled-up in another household. Most families who are doubled or tripled-up are not supposed to be there because they are not part of the lease…Years ago families were able to help families — not anymore because landlords are not allowing it. That is the biggest eligibility."

Nicholson was quick to point out that the Bergen County CAP and its Homelessness and Rapid-Rehousing Program is also reaching out to veterans.

"What we are doing for this program, also, is that we have a lot of veterans coming back home and they are receiving what they call a VASH [Veterans Affair Supportive Housing] voucher and we are seeking security for those particular persons," she said. "Sometimes they are in temporary houses but that is just it — temporary — so they get a VASH voucher, which is almost like a subsidy for veterans because they are on a fixed income."

Housing and rent are not the only issues that Bergen County CAP clients face. This grant will also aid individuals with other residential problems.

"I am able to help people with utilities," Nicholson said. "Utilities keep going up but income doesn’t keep going up. I’m able to help with utility which may be PSE&G, water, oil, any of those, which is a really good thing because even if a person goes into a new apartment, they may have to put anywhere between $200 to $500 utility deposit down in order to get their service."

Bergen County CAP is a non-profit, designated anti-poverty agency.

"We aim to help and change the lives of those who are economically challenged," Halsch said. "We provide a whole host of services— child education, child care, adult education and training. We provide weatherization, energy conservation and home improvement services. We provide energy payment assistance to persons that cannot pay their energy bill. And we provide a whole host of other types of asset development services and homeless prevention."

The main Bergen County CAP facility is located at 241 Moore St. in Hackensack.